by:

Eric Rasmussen, PhD

As the story goes, Santa Claus is one busy guy. For 11 months of each year, from dawn ‘til dusk, he and his elves rarely leave the workshop (except for the occasional cookie with milk) because getting ready for Christmas is more than a full time job. That’s how the story goes, anyway. But the true story about Santa’s schedule is that he probably has the most cush job in the world. It’s a story about an 11-month vacation, advertisers, and unsuspecting children.

Each year, the Toy Industry Association gathers to present its TOTY (Toy Of The Year) Awards. In honor of the industry that has led the way in commercializing childhood, CCFC will present its TOADY (Toys Oppressive And Destructive to Young Children) Award for the Worst Toy of the Year.

From thousands of toys that stifle creativity, lionize brands, and promote screen-based entertainment at the expense of children’s play, CCFC and our partners have selected six exceptional finalists. Who will win the dreaded TOADY? It’s up to you.

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This week, Los Angeles teachers made it very clear: it’s time for McDonald’s to stay away from their students and schools. “Across the country and in Los Angeles, McDonald’s is exploiting our schools and teachers to market its unhealthy fare to children,” said Cecily Myart-Cruz, vice president of United Teachers Los Angeles (UTLA).

by:

Jenny Gamson

Jenny and her younger brother in 1965

I am a child of the 60s. I was raised in an activist household – in 1969, the whole family drove through the night to Washington, DC, to attend the largest anti-war demonstration in history. It was a household that not only limited television time to one hour a day, much to the consternation of my brother and I, but where there was also a ban on what my wise parents called “television toys.” Though they themselves were raised in the radio era, my parents were ahead of their time – they are among the first generation of parents who realized the damaging impact television could have on kids.

by:

Tim Kasser, CCFC Board member

Last week my youngest son left for college, signaling the end of the most intense phase of child-rearing for me and my wife. This big life transition has led me to reflect a lot lately on my experience as a parent. I think if you asked my sons about what my wife and I were like as parents, they both would almost certainly mention our screen time rules.

On August 12, 2016, CCFC’s David Monahan joined Kristen Strader and Margrete Strand Rangnes of Public Citizen’s Commercial Alert for a meeting with staff of the National Park Service (NPS) in Washington, DC. They presented the NPS with 213,926 petition signatures from the members of CREDO Action, Commercial Alert, and CCFC, asking the NPS to abandon plans to permit corporate sponsorships and branding in our parks.